Electric window regulator safety switch



Dec. 24, 1957 w. K. JENSEN ELECTRIC WINDOW REGULATOR SAFETY SWITCH Filed Aug. 5o, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TT'ORNE Y w. K. JENSEN 2,817,720

ELECTRIC wINnow REGULATOR SAFETY swTTcE Filed Aug. 30, 1955 Dec. 24, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i? 7# a iaf f r 1'/ ll IN VEN TOR.

United States atent ELECTRIC WINDOW REGULATOR SAFETY SWITCH William K. Jensen, Royal Oak, Mich., assigner to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application August so, 195s, serial No. 531,468

11 Claims. (c1. zoo-s) This invention relates to a switch, and more particularly to a safety switch especially adapted for use with automobile window regulators.

One feature of the invention is that it provides an improved switch; another feature of the invention is that it provides a safety switch wherein two movements in different 'directions are required to close the switch; a further feature of the invention is that it provides two adjacent handle members which must be squeezed to- -gether and then moved together in a different direction to close the switch; still another feature of the invention is that the switch includes a handle member carrying a movable bridging contact, said handle member being movable in one direction from an inoperative position wherein the movable contact is out of bridging relationship and out of alignment with a stationary switch contact to an operating position wherein said movable contact is out of bridging relationship but is aligned with said stationary contact and for subsequent movement in another direction to an operated position wherein the movable contact bridges the stationary contacts to close the switch; yet a further feature of the invention is that the guide means includes means for blocking movement of the handle member from inoperative position directly to operated position so that two movements in different directions are necessary to close the switch.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view of an automobile door showing the window regulator mechanism which is controlled by the improved switch;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational View of the switch device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the switch contacts.

Automobile window regulators in many cases lare power operated by hydraulic or electric means of well known conventional construction. The power means is controlled through switch devices, one of which is generally located on each door (except the drivers door) for the control of the window in that particular door. On the drivers door there is usually a master switch panel having separate switches for controlling each of the windows.

Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. l of the drawings where the drivers door 10 of an automobile has a window 12 which is vertically slidable in guides within the door panel, one of these guides being shown at 14. The window is powered by an electric motor 16 mounted on a bracket 18 between the door panelsV and the motor,

is connected through gearing 20 to scissors type arms 22 and 24 which are connected to the frame 26 of the window. Power operating means of this type are conventional and are well known in the art.

The motor 16 is controlled in the usual manner through a switch which is connected to the automobile battery and to the motor, the switch being of the doublethrow variety to provide for reverse operation of the motor to raise and lower the window. In the past, these switches have usually been of conventional type wherein a single movement in one direction would close the circuit to cause the motor to operate to raise or lower the window. However, it sometimes happens that small children will play with these switches with the danger that the window will be raised and catch a portion of the childs body between the top edge of the window and the window frame. This invention provides a novel and improved switch which must be deliberately operated in two different directions to close the circuit to the motor.

In the drivers door illustrated in Fig. l, there is a switch panel designated generally as 30 having four switches 32, 34, 36 and 38 mounted thereon. The switch 32 may control the motor 16 in the drivers door and the switches 34, 36 and 38 may control similar motors in each of the other doors of the automobile. Each of the switches is similar in construction and only one will be described in detail, although reference to the other switches will be made to show the different operating positions.

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically the relationship of the switch contacts in one of the switches, as for example the switch 32. The switch includes two spaced groups of stationary contacts, each group having three aligned, equally spaced stationary contacts. In Fig. 6, the three contacts of the first group are designated as 40, 42 and 44 respectively, and the stationary contacts of the second group are designated as 46, 48 and 50 respectively. Figs. 4 and 5 show the detailed construction of these stationary contacts which are in the form of metallic studs each having an indented head to provide a recess for engagement by a detent-shaped bridging contact later to be described. The studs are mounted in a switch` block 49 and project into a contact mounting plate 51- on the bottom of the switch block.

A rst movable switch handle 52 projects from a carriage plate 54 which is mounted for rectilinear sliding movement in a recess 56 in the switch block 49, a guide rib 58 in the switch block entering a straight guide recess 60 in carriage 54 to guide movement of the handle member in a rectilinear path. On its underside, the carriage 54 has a movable bridging contact which includes detents 62 and 64 electrically connected by a bridging strap 65 (see Fig. 6). The distance between the detents 62 and 64 is equal to the distance between the respective stationary contacts 40, 42 and 44, and the movable contact is aligned with these stationary contacts and is so loc-ated that when the switch handle 52 is in a center or inoperative position, the movable contact is out of bridging re- A lationship with the stationary contacts as shown in Fig. 6.

This center position is illustrated by the position of the left hand switch 32 in Fig. 2. However, if the handle 52 is moved upwardly to the position illustrated at 52' in the center portion of Fig. 2, the bridging contact will p move into bridging relationship with the center contact 42 and the upper contact 40 of the Switch. Similarly,l if the handle is moved downwardly as illustrated at 52 in Fig. 2, the stationary contact will now bridge the center contact 42 and the lower stationary contact 44 to provide for reverse operation of the motor 16.

A second handle member 66 vis also movably mounted.. onA the switch .block 49 on a carriage '68'. O11' the under' side of the carriage, there is a movable bridging contact including detents 70 and 72 electrically connected together by a bridging strap '74, the construction of this movable contact being similar to the construction of the movable contact on the first handle 52. The second handle 66 is guided for movement by means of a T- shaped recess 76 in cover plate 78 and the first and second handle members 62 and 66 are resiliently urged apart by a spring 80 mounted on a pin 82 extending between the carriages 54 and 68.

The operation of the second handle 66 is illustrated in Fig. 2. The handle 66 is normally located in an inoperative position in the stem of the T-shaped guide as shown in the left hand portion of Fig. 2. In this position, the movable bridging contact associated with the switch handle 66 is located, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6, out of bridging relationship and out of alignment with the stationary contacts 46, 48 and 50. If the switch handles 52 and 66 are grasped with the fingers and squeezed, the handle 66 will move in a direction toward the handle 52, compressing the spring 80. In this position, which is identified herein as the operating position of the switch handle, the bridging contact moves into alignment with the stationary contacts 46, 48 and 50, but the bridging contact is still out of bridging relationship with the stationary contacts. Subsequent to movement to its operating position, the handle member 66, together with the handle member 52, may be moved upwardly to an operated position as illustrated at 52', 66 in the center portion of Fig. 2. With the parts in this position, the bridging contact of the handle 66 will move into bridging relationship with the center stationary contact 48 and the upper stationary contact 46. To provide for reverse operation of the motor, the handle members 52 and 66 may be moved downwardly as illustrated at 52, 66" in the right hand portion of Fig. 2 so that the movable contact associated with the handle member 66 bridges the center stationary contact 48 and the lower stationary contact 50.

The switch, as illustrated and described above, provides a double safety feature, the first being in the necessity for moving the handle member 66 in two directions in order to close the circuit, and the second being in the necessity for moving the handle members 52 and 66 together to close the circuit. In this condition of operation the respective groups of stationary contacts may be connected in series. If desired, the first handle 52 might merely be a dummy with no electrical connection so that its sole function would be to facilitate movement of the second handle 66 inthe T-shaped guide, the walls of which block movement of the handle member 66 from its inoperative position directly to either of its operated positions. It would also be possible to eliminate the handle 52 entirely and do away with the necessity for squeezing movement to operate the switch. The connecting cable 83 shown in Fig. 4 may be connected from the center one 48 of the stationary contacts to the motor and the center stationary contacts 42, 48 may be electrically bridged to provide in elect two switches in series, this combination including the double safety feature described above. The upper and lower stationary switch contacts may be connected to the up and down motor terminals in conventional manner.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is subject to many moditications.

Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A switch of the character described, including: a switch block carrying at least two spaced stationary electrically conductive contacts; a handle member carrying a movable electrically conductive contact adapted to bridge said stationary contacts; and guide means mounting said handle member on said block for movement in one direction from an inoperative position wherein said movable contact is out of bridging relationship and out of alignment with said stationary contacts to an operating position wherein said movable contact is out of bridging relationship but aligned with said stationary contacts, and for subsequent movement in another direction to an operated position wherein said movable contact bridges said stationary contacts.

2. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim l, wherein the guide means includes means for blocking movement of said handle member from inoperative position directly to operated position.

3. A switch of the character described, including: a switch block carrying at least two spaced stationary contacts; a first handle member mounted on said switch block for movement between inoperative and operated positions; a second handle member carrying a movable contact adapted to bridge said stationary contacts; and guide means mounting said second handle member on said block adjacent said first handle for movement in one direction from an inoperative position wherein said movable contact is out of bridging relationship and out of alignment with said stationary contacts to an operating position wherein said movable contact is out of bridging relationship, but is aligned with said stationary contacts, and for subsequent movement in another direction which is parallel to the direction of movement of said first handle member to an operated position wherein said movable contact bridges said stationary contacts, said first handle providing a finger grip to assist in the application of moving force to the second handle.

4. A switch of the character described, including: a switch block carrying at least two spaced stationary contacts; a first handle member mounted on said switch block for movement between inoperative and operated positions; a second handle member carrying a movable contact adapted to bridge said stationary contacts; and guide means mounting said second handle member on said block adjacent said first handle for movement in a direction toward said first handle member from an inoperative position wherein said movable contact is out of bridging relationship and out of alignment with said stationary contacts to an operating position wherein said movable contact is out of bridging relationship but is aligned with said stationary contacts, and for subsequent movement in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said first handle member to an operated position wherein said movable contact bridges said stationary contacts, said first handle providing a finger grip to assist in the application of moving force to the second handle.

5. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 4, including resilient means interconnecting said two handle members and biasing said handle members apart.

6. A switch of the character described, including: a switch block carrying two spaced groups of stationary contacts, the contacts in each group being spaced from each other; a first handle member carrying a movable contact adapted to bridge the stationary contacts in one group, said handle member being mounted on said block for movement between an inoperative position wherein said movable contact is out of bridging relationship with said last-mentioned stationary contacts and an operated position wherein the movable contact bridges said stationary contacts; a second handle member carrying a movable contact adapted to bridge the stationary contacts of the other group; and guide means mounting said second handle member on said block adjacent said first handle for movement in one direction from an inoperative position wherein its movable contact is out of bridging relationship and out of alignment with the associated stationary contacts to an operating position wherein its movable contact is out of bridging relationship but is aligned with said stationary contacts, and for subsequent movement in another direction to an operated position wherein its movable contact bridges the stationary contacts, said first handle providing a finger grip to assist in the application of moving force to the second handle.

7. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 6, wherein the guide means includes means for blocking movement of said second handle member from inoperative position directly to operated position.

8. A switch of the character described, including: a switch block carrying three spaced stationary electrically conductive contacts; a handle member carrying a movable electrically conductive Contact adapted to bridge two of said stationary contacts; and T-shaped guide means mounting said handle member on said block for movement in one direction from an inoperative position wherein said movable Contact is out of bridging relationship and out of alignment with said stationary contacts to an operating position wherein said movable contact is out of bridging relationship but aligned with said stationary contacts, and for subsequent movement in directions at right angles to said one direction to operated positions wherein said movable contact bridges two of said stationary contacts.

9. A switch of the character described, including: a switch block carrying three equally spaced aligned stationary contacts; a handle member -carrying a movable contact adapted to bridge the center one and either end one of said stationary contacts; and T-shaped guide means mounting said handle member on said block for movement in one direction from an inoperative position wherein said movable contact is out of bridging relationship and out of alignment with said stationary contacts to an operating position wherein said movable contact is out of bridging relationship but aligned with said stationary contacts, and for subsequent movement in directions at right angles to said one direction to an operated position wherein said movable Contact bridges said stationary contacts, the T-shaped formation of the guide means blocking movement of said handle member from inoperative position directly to either operated position.

10. A switch of the character described, including: a switch block carying two spaced groups of stationary contacts, each group comprising three equally spaced aligned contacts; a irst handle member carrying a movable con- 40 tact adapted to bridge the center one and either end contact in one group, said handle member being mounted on said block for movement between an inoperative position wherein said movable contact is out of bridging relationship with said stationary contact and an operated position wherein the movable contact bridges the center one and either end one of said stationary contacts; a second handle member carrying a movable contact adapted to bridge the center one and either end one of the stationary contacts ofthe other group; and T-shaped guide means mounting said second handle member on said block adjacent said rst handle for movement in one direction from an inoperative position wherein its movable contact is out of bridging relationship and out of alignment with the associated stationary contacts toward said rst handle member to an operating position wherein its movable contact is out of bridging relationship but is aligned with said stationary contact, and for subsequent movement in directions parallel to the direction of movement of said rst handle member to operated positions wherein its movable contact bridges the center one and either end one of said stationary contacts, said first handle providing a finger grip to assist in the application of moving force to the second handle.

11. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim l0, including resilient means interconnecting said two handle members and biasing said handle members apart.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,218,059 Cope Mar. 6, 1917 1,379,985 Hulbert May 3l, 1921 1,423,306 Catlin July 18, 1922 2,246,919 Krantz June 24, 1941 2,641,671 Koenig et al. June 9, 1953 2,680,165 Hasselbaun June 1, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 826,010 France Dec. 27, 1937 

